The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed from Wednesday through Friday as President Donald Trump weighs military attacks on Iran.
The embassy said in a press release, “As a result of the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the U.S. Embassy has directed that all U.S. government employees and their family members continue to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice.
The release continued, “Given the security situation and in compliance with Israel Home Front Command guidance, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) through Friday (June 20). This includes the Consular Sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There will be no passport (emergency or regular) or Consular Report of Birth Abroad services.”
Meanwhile, Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone Tuesday, shortly after the president’s Situation Room briefing on Iran, a White House official told Associated Press.
The official did not offer details about their call.
During his security briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Trump discussed a range of options for dealing with Iran, including a U.S. strike on the country, several administration officials told NBC News.
Several military leaders were spotted leaving the White House after the briefing, along with Special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.
“This is a war to end wars not to start endless wars” Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter told CNN in part on Tuesday night.
He added, “We are going to prosecute this war whether the Ayatollah [Khamenei] survives or not,” as he discussed Trump saying earlier on Tuesday that the U.S. knows where Khamenei he is hiding amid the ongoing Israeli strikes.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
The post US Embassy in Jerusalem Closed as Donald Trump Weighs Attacks on Iran appeared first on Newsweek.
